When the Pittsburgh Steelers went into their offseason, any outside observer could have made a checklist of positions that could be targeted for reinforcement.

They could have used help and/or depth to varying degrees at tight end, interior offensive line, defensive line, wide receiver, running back, outside linebacker, safety and inside linebacker.

Throughout the course of free agency, trading season and the draft, Steelers brass worked their way checking off boxes. They made it all the way down to inside linebacker.

Despite the release of Mark Barron and the loss in free agency of Tyler Matakevich, the Steelers mostly stood pat at that position. The only inside linebacker added who’s still with the team for camp was an undrafted free agent, Leo Lewis.

Did second-year inside linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III take that as a compliment?

“I really didn’t know what to think,” the 2019 sixth-round draft pick said during a video conference call with media earlier this week. “They made a decision for themselves. I just look at it as an opportunity in front of me, and whatever they want me to do I’m going to put my right foot forward and do whatever they want me to do. At the end of the day, I’m just taking it day by day, thankful for every opportunity I do get. I’m just ready when they call my name.”

With Devin Bush and Vince Williams entrenched as starters and Robert Spillane a special-teams ace, Gilbert only has Lewis to fend off to be the top backup at both inside linebacker spots.

At 6-foot-0, 230 pounds, Gilbert has been clocked at less than 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash. His sideline-to-sideline playmaking stood out during his rookie training camp and in practice settings last year before a back injury landed him on season-ending injured reserve after appearing in seven of the Steelers’ first eight games.

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) June 25, 2020

But although Gilbert was the Steelers’ most-deployed special-teamer during the games he played, he did not get onto the field for a regular-season defensive snap. That fact has muted the 2020 expectations of Gilbert for coach Mike Tomlin, who often refers to the jump players make between Years 1 and 2 of their careers.

“Hopefully, because he has been a part of the program and been in the building, there is some residual benefits from it,” Tomlin said. “But in terms of play or exposure to play, he hasn’t experienced nearly as much as some of the others in his class because of injury.”

Still, Gilbert has spoken this season about feeling more comfortable mentally and in being around the guys and at the NFL level. Though there were no organized team activities or minicamp and training camp practices aren’t as open as they typically are, the official pool report of Wednesday’s practice listed Gilbert as making a play in pass coverage.

“Ulysees is looking great,” said Williams, the elder statesman of Steelers inside linebackers. “I think he has made tremendous strides.”

That the Steelers did not target inside linebacker in the draft or free agency could portend they view Gilbert as a future starter. Certainly, it’s almost impossible not to interpret the Steelers’ lack of action at the position as an indication they are comfortable with Gilbert as the top ILB backup in 2020.

Gilbert said he will lean on the knowledge gained last season.

“I got a lot of knowledge and was able to play in a couple of games and got some great game opportunities in the ways of being a rookie,” Gilbert said, “as well as just learning behind guys like Vince Williams and Mark Barron, just watching how those guys play knowing they’re veterans, listen to everything they say in the meeting rooms as well as on the field. It’s kind of watching how they play to see other things on how I can improve my game as well as the things I do have in my game to just get better at and keep them at a high level.”

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)